“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12
On the heels of political debates and commentaries where abortion is brought up constantly, it seems important to talk about this issue from another perspective. In all the talk in the news and media, abortion is conveyed as a political issue. However, abortion is not merely a political issue, it is first and foremost a spiritual issue.
It is important that we, as the church, do not lose sight of this. Last year, a friend wanted to have a booth for Deeper Still at a Christian mission conference, the booth was first rejected because the organization looked at abortion as more of a political issue rather than spiritual. This is common, unfortunately. Issues of abortion, death, pain, bondages of sin, and healing through the blood of Jesus gets lost in the bombardment in the debates of choice versus life. However, it is all about Jesus, it is all about life.
Pro-abortion groups miss the mark in overbearing rhetoric screaming proud proclamations that abortion was the best thing they ever did.
And often pro-life politicians and individuals miss the opportunity to show compassion on the ones who fell victim to false rhetoric or were blinded to the truth of what abortion truly is and what is does to not just the baby, but everyone involved.
The message Jesus Christ has is simple. It is not political. It is not filled with an agenda and doesn’t seek to advance a platform. The message is come. “come to me to have life “ (John 5:40)
What is not addressed is that there is a whole world of people out there who have been wounded and traumatized from the effects of abortion. They matter. In spite of what the pro-abortion groups may shout, this is true. And perhaps their shouts are just loud Band-Aids to cover their internal bleeding they have no idea how to contain or stop. Projecting anger onto others can be a coping mechanism for not dealing with the anger within oneself due to self-loathing.
Abortion-wounds are prevalent and we need greater awareness. Thirty-percent of those sitting in our churches have been through an abortion experience. That is nearly 1 out of 3. Think of that. If we aren’t addressing this deep wound, we are missing one-third of our friends struggling. All the talk in the news either stirs up the pain to the surfaces or causes one to push it down further in an attempt to bury deep to not feel. Of course, burying pain never works for long. Pain surfaces one way or another over time.
This is why it is important that we, as the body of Christ, do not miss this important aspect to the pro-life movement. Acknowledging these wounds in pro-life groups and in politics would do a great service to our fellow mankind who need healing. In politics or church leadership, as it says in Colossians 3:12, “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Compassion, love, and care are always in style.
Father, thank you for your love, care and compassion for your people. Lord, may we not project our own self-loathing onto those who are hurting, but rather embrace and acknowledge the pain of others with a spirit of compassion and love, whether that is due to abortion or other wounds. Let us become an abortion-wounded aware country. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.